With a bit of patience and nice talking, the bitch can soften up. I didn't make the application in the end, but having been initially told I had to be a resident of Senegal, having sat politely for half an hour, trying my best "poor me what can I do" look and pretending to be busy on my phone (as opposed to just sitting waiting petulantly for nothing) she called me up and took my application. Then she barked that I needed a letter of invitation. Said she'd forward it to the consul the next day if I came back with the letter.

A bloke I met in Dakar got it the previous week with a similar tale. I didn't go back cos I was really only testing the water to see if it could be achieved cos I wasn't sure if I'd make Ghana. But could be worth a second visit. Just have your letter of invitation (I had the distinct impression this was a box ticking exercise and a forged one would do).

I imagine the consuls excuse translates as "it's more hassle for me if you're not resident, but if I'm gently pushed I might do it"

Remember. Lines of logic in a conversation that we take for granted in the west, generally don't apply in Africa. Even though it wasn't a precondition the bitch said, it would be worth going back tomorrow with a letter of invitation acting on the assumption that this should now fix the problem and see what happens, applying my polite sitting playing with your phone if you have now success immediately