A Muslim cleric in Ghana has said sex between gay couples "disgusts Allah" and is responsible for earthquakes.

Mallam Abass Mahmud said in an interview: “Allah gets annoyed when males engage in sexual encounter and such disgusting encounter causes earthquake.”

He also said Allah destroyed the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah ‘as the result of homesexuality’.

His comments follow reports of heightened hostility among Zongo communities in Kumasi and the capital Accra towards homosexual relationships.

A local news station reported that a number of gay men have fled their homes because they were ‘afraid to disclose their sexual preferences for fear of attacks’.

According to the Daily Mail, Mahmud added: “Should we allow such a shame to continue in our communities against holy teachings? Certainly no, and we are very happy to chase away such idiots from our Zongo communities.”

The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe Show all 15 1 /15 The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 15. Italy Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 14. Macedonia Processed by: Helicon Filter; The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 13. Poland Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 12. Liechtenstein The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 11. Lithuania The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 10. Latvia This content is subject to copyright. The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 9. San Marino The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 8. Moldova The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 7. Belarus Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 6. Ukraine Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 5. Monaco The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 4. Turkey Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 3. Armenia The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 2. Russia Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 1. Azerbaijan Norway's Mette B. Bjerknaes competes during the Powerboat race on July 6, 2013 in Baku. Baku hosts the second race F2 World Championship 2013. The 2 mile course is designed just in front of the Baku Boulevard facing the Caspian Sea. AFP PHOTO / TOFIK BABAYEV (Photo credit should read TOFIK BABAYEV/AFP/Getty Images) Getty/AFP

The British Government’s travel advice for Ghana warns: “Although there is a small gay community, there is no ‘scene’ and most Ghanaians don’t accept that such activity exists’.

News Ghana reported that Muslim youths in the communities are known to have created special task forces to fight what they describe as the importation of “white man’s culture”.