Urban Planning Through Participatory Democracy: Analysis of Citizen Participation in Urban Planning in Ho (Ghana) and Kpalimé (Togo)

Tchakouni Sondou (), Mawufe Yawo Dotsu, Kouassi Rodolphe Anoumou, Sékdja Prosper Samon, Jérôme Chenal and Coffi Cyprien Aholou
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Tchakouni Sondou: Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERVIDA-DOUNEDON), Université de Lomé, 01 BP 1515 Lomé, Togo
Mawufe Yawo Dotsu: Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERVIDA-DOUNEDON), Université de Lomé, 01 BP 1515 Lomé, Togo
Kouassi Rodolphe Anoumou: Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERVIDA-DOUNEDON), Université de Lomé, 01 BP 1515 Lomé, Togo
Sékdja Prosper Samon: Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERVIDA-DOUNEDON), Université de Lomé, 01 BP 1515 Lomé, Togo
Jérôme Chenal: Communauté d’Etudes pour l’Aménagement du Territoire (CEAT), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Coffi Cyprien Aholou: Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERVIDA-DOUNEDON), Université de Lomé, 01 BP 1515 Lomé, Togo

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-37

Abstract: Participatory democracy is a promising solution to the shortcomings of the traditional approach to urban planning. However, in Ho (Ghana) and Kpalimé (Togo), it raises questions about the effective involvement of citizens in decision-making processes. This study examines the mechanisms put in place to encourage their participation. To explore this issue, we used a mixed-methods approach that included interviews with municipal officials and other urban actors, surveys of residents, and direct observation. The Arnstein approach was used as a framework to shed light on the degree of control and influence that citizens actually exercise in planning and decision-making processes. This approach allows us to determine whether citizens are merely informed (levels 3–4) or actively involved in decision making (levels 6–8). This allows us to highlight the shortcomings of participatory mechanisms in both cities. Colonial legacies and political approaches influence how authorities manage participation, while traditions and cultural norms shape citizens’ expectations and behaviors. In Ho, a culture of collaboration and transparency favors participatory methods, while in Kpalimé, respect for hierarchies and a more centralized approach limit forms of direct engagement. These differences highlight the importance of taking these dimensions into account to better understand and improve local governance practices in these two contexts.

Keywords: urban planning; participatory democracy; citizen participation; governance; sustainable development; community engagement; Ho; Kpalimé; West Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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