A few more months and the new market under construction in Adjagbo will start its activities. The Government of President Patrice Talon is doing everything possible to ensure that a good part of the activities carried out in Dantokpa can be found in the new jewel. To facilitate the mobility of users, several lanes have been built, including the one that starts from the paved Kérékou crossroads for the new market. The new intersection presents important economic issues that some street vendors have already grasped.
Almost all road users who leave the northern part of Benin to the south or from the southern part of the country to the north, know the paved Kérékou crossroads. Located in Akassato in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi, this crossroads took the name of the former President of Benin, General Mathieu Kérékou whose private home is nearby. It was the regulars of the public transport called “Tokpa-Tokpa” who gave the name “Kérékou paved crossroads” to this place.. This crossroads is one of the most famous crossroads in the city of Abomey-Calavi in view of the immensity of the name by which it is designated. Since a few months, this intersection has regained all its attractiveness due to the asphalting work on the old road which was paved. The purpose of the new road built is to promote the mobility and fluidity of users who will soon be visiting the new market under construction and almost in its final phase.. But before the effectiveness of activities in this market, it is another business that is already developing at the Kérékou paved crossroads, newly built. *
Indeed, hardly had the crossroads been made accessible by the company in charge of the work than it became the hub of street vending. Small cola vendors, pastry products, confectionery, dairy, various fruits, clothing merchants, and many other objects used daily, storm this crossroads. Cotonou being saturated, many of them leave the economic capital to pick up their daily bread at the new crossroads. The surrounding populations also took it as an opportunity.
De Hêvie, missesinto, Zinvia, via Sô-Ava, Ganvie, Glo, Eggs, Tori, Allada, good ladies and young girls, young boys in search of their daily bread, come to sell items of all kinds. They are helped in their task by the newly installed traffic lights around this crossroads.. When the red light comes on, road users are obliged to respect the signs. By motorbike or by car, they stop. Meanwhile, street vendors throw themselves into the lane. They weave between vehicles and motorcycles, to present their articles and products to road users. They stay there from morning until nightfall. In the morning, at noon then in the afternoon, items and other products are sold out.
officials, The travellers, students who are on motorbikes and cars make purchases. “I am already at twelve (6.000FCFA) when we are only at 2 p.m.. This crossroads brings us a lot of happiness. There is no work in the country. So, we conduct our business to meet our basic needs. We hope that the authorities will understand us and will not come to disturb us here.”, said Housséïnath, seller of dairy products commonly called ''Dèguè''. Anges Balovi is on the other hand a second-hand clothing seller. For him, this crossroads will steal the limelight from all the others in the locality. “This crossroads will make Akassato, Missésinto and Abomey-Calavi in general will develop. I have already sold, four to six pants and t-shirts. I have the minimum to pay for meals and meet the needs of my children and my wife”, did he notice.
Generally, it is a cocktail of happiness and joy that could be read on the faces of the street vendors at the Carrefour pavé Kérékou in Akassato. However, this form of business involves enough risk, but behind it is quite a job.
Etienne YEMADJE