Atikpodji, the market under the mud

The part of the large market of Lomé commonly called Atikpodji still attracts attention during these periods of rains. The place from which all the food which ends up in our dishes is at present comparable to a smelly muddy dump. It is a veritable soil of microbes, a market of refuse.


At the entrance to the market, at the edge of the pavement, a pond of mud, in which were bathed empty cartons, bottles, sachets (of all kinds), tin cans and outdated foods, sets the scene. The cocktail between the greenish puddle and waste, all flavored with an unpleasant odor, is breathtaking.

Making his shoppings in Atikpodji in these rainy days is back to slalomer. All the lanes of this part of the great market of Lomé are currently under the mud.


To attract their customers, the dealers, left to their sad fate, through the total indifference of the authorities of the Autonomous Public Authority of the markets (Epam), are forced to erect stones in the form of dykes in front of their hangars. And it is these little makeshift bridges that serve as passage for customers. And also to tax collectors.

In the absence of the bricks (which are sometimes bought by these dealers), they are used raffia bags which serve as paving stones in certain places on the market. But you should also walk on eggs to avoid picking up the mud. The worst of it is when drivers add to it by splashing the dealers and their merchandise. According to some regulars of the market, it is in the evening around 5 pm around 6 pm that the situation becomes lamentable with bottlenecks in the background.

"It's hell in Atikpodji when it rains, it's only on the pavement that the situation is a little normal, but in the alleys of the market there are puddles of greenish water and mud everywhere And it is difficult to pass in front of these puddles of water without clogging the nose, history not to smell the odors of putrefaction.There is no room to circulate freely.Resquesters do not even have a place To install their goods, "complained Dodji, a young, thirty, met yesterday in this market.

However, in spite of this unpleasant situation, the agents of the Autonomous Public Authority of the markets (Epam) are still working to collect taxes. Every day, they walk in the market, tickets in their hands, and harassing the dealers for the payment of taxes that vary between 125 FCFA and 250 FCFA per day.

It is to be believed that the insalubrity in which bathes Atikpodji does not concern the Epam and its collectors of taxes. They are much more concerned about taxes and do not have to do market development. In any case, the dealers continue to launch their distress calls.


"We want the government to take our situation into account and to reorganize our market," said Vénavinon, a pottery reseller in Atikpodji.

It must be remembered that for some years now the media have denounced the state of advanced deterioration of this part of the great market of Lomé. But nothing seems to change. All attempts to meet them have been futile.

One wonders what all these daily collections are for. As long as Epam runs behind the tax dollars, the poor dealers will remain in the mud. And it's unfortunate!