Urban Dynamics and Spatial Balance Challenges in Lomé: Toward an Integration of Mineral, Wetland, and Green Spaces for Urban Well-Being

Komlan Déla Gake*, Ndonaye Allarane, Modeste Yaovi Awoussi and Coffi Cyprien Aholou

Greater Lomé emblematically illustrates the contradictions of sub-Saharan African metropolises, caught between rapid population growth, informal spatial expansion, and increasing climate vulnerabilities. The horizontal sprawl of Grand Lomé, marked by high annual consumption of natural and agricultural spaces, occurs in a context of significant mineralisation, fragmentation of wetland areas, and a near absence of green spaces. In this perspective, the study aims to analyse how the organization of these three types of spaces (mineral, humid, and vegetated) influences urban well-being and the resilience of the Grand Lomé metropolis. Based on a questionnaire survey of 300 households, complemented by interviews and field observations, the study analyses the links between the organization of mineral, wet, and green spaces, perceived climatic impacts, and quality of life in the different types of neighbourhoods in Grand Lomé. The results show that 71% of respondents report not having access to green space, 48% consider the olfactory quality poor, 71% express dissatisfaction with the infrastructure, and 91% participate in local environmental actions. The study recommends the establishment of a metropolitan green and blue framework integrating the Zio Valley, a compact and polycentric urban densification, and an eco-humanist governance that combines customary practices with modern planning tools to build a resilient and inclusive metropolis.

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Published on: Oct 2, 2026 Pages: 25-32

Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/gje.000119
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